U.S. patent application number 13/997994 was filed with the patent office on 2014-07-03 for techniques for skin tone activation.
The applicant listed for this patent is Philip J. Corriveau, Audrey C. Younkin. Invention is credited to Philip J. Corriveau, Audrey C. Younkin.
Application Number | 20140189854 13/997994 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48612992 |
Filed Date | 2014-07-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140189854 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Younkin; Audrey C. ; et
al. |
July 3, 2014 |
TECHNIQUES FOR SKIN TONE ACTIVATION
Abstract
Techniques may be used to authenticate a user to a computing
device using their skin tone. A color sample may be received while
a computing device remains in a power saving state. A user may be
authenticated when the color sample matches a skin tone record. The
computing device may be placed in an active state when the user is
authenticated. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
Inventors: |
Younkin; Audrey C.;
(Hillsboro, OR) ; Corriveau; Philip J.; (Forest
Grove, OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Younkin; Audrey C.
Corriveau; Philip J. |
Hillsboro
Forest Grove |
OR
OR |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48612992 |
Appl. No.: |
13/997994 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
December 14, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US11/64864 |
371 Date: |
June 25, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
726/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06T 2207/30196
20130101; G06K 9/00885 20130101; G06K 9/00362 20130101; G06F 21/32
20130101; G06T 2207/10016 20130101; G06T 7/90 20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
726/19 |
International
Class: |
G06F 21/32 20060101
G06F021/32 |
Claims
1. An article of manufacture comprising a storage medium containing
instructions that when executed cause a system to: receive a color
sample of a user from an image; determine that the color sample is
a skin tone; and authenticate the user when the color sample
matches a skin tone record.
2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, comprising instructions
that when executed cause the system to: receive the color sample
while the system remains in a power saving state.
3. The article of manufacture of claim 1, comprising instructions
that when executed cause the system to: place the system in an
active state when the user is authenticated.
4. The article of manufacture of claim 1, comprising instructions
that when executed cause the system to: receive the color sample
via a wide angle camera.
5. The article of manufacture of claim 1, comprising instructions
that when executed cause the system to: perform object recognition
and segmentation on the color sample.
6. The article of manufacture of claim 1, comprising instructions
that when executed cause the system to: identify the color sample
while one or more sensors in a camera remain in a power saving
state; and place all the sensors in the camera in an active state
when the color sample is a skin tone.
7. The article of manufacture of claim 1, comprising instructions
that when executed cause the system to: map the color sample to the
skin tone record in a database.
8. The article of manufacture of claim 1, comprising instructions
that when executed cause the system to: determine that the color
sample is a skin tone using a Commission on Illumination
matrix.
9. The article of manufacture of claim 1, comprising instructions
that when executed cause the system to: determine whether the color
sample is of an identified body part of the user.
10. A method, comprising: receiving a color sample while the
computing device is in a power saving state; authenticating a user
when the color sample matches a skin tone record; and placing the
computing device in an active state when the user is
authenticated.
11. The method of claim 10, comprising: determining that the color
sample comprises a skin tone.
12. The method of claim 10, comprising: receiving a color sample
via a wide angle camera.
13. The method of claim 10, comprising: performing object
recognition and segmentation on the color sample.
14. The method of claim 10, comprising: identifying the color
sample while one or more sensors in a camera remain in a power
saving state; and placing all the sensors in the camera in an
active state when the color sample comprises a skin tone.
15. The method of claim 10, comprising: mapping the identified
color sample to the skin tone record in a database.
16. The method of claim 10, comprising: determining whether the
color sample comprises a skin tone using a Commission on
Illumination matrix.
17. The method of claim 10, comprising: determining that the color
sample is not a skin tone while the computing device remains in the
power saving state.
18. The method of claim 10, comprising: determining whether the
color sample is of an identified body part of the user.
19. An apparatus comprising: a processing unit; a skin tone
determination component operative on the processing unit to:
receive a color sample from an image; and determine whether the
color sample comprises a skin tone; and a skin tone matching
component operative to determine whether the color sample matches a
skin tone record.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, comprising: a skin tone database
comprising a plurality of skin tone records.
21. The apparatus of claim 19, comprising: a power control
component to change the apparatus from a power saving state to an
active state when the color sample matches a skin tone record in a
database.
22. The apparatus of claim 19, the skin tone determination
component to: perform object recognition and segmentation on the
color sample.
23. The apparatus of claim 19, comprising: a wide angle camera
communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the wide area
camera to obtain the image.
24. The apparatus of claim 19, comprising: a digital display
communicatively coupled to the processing unit.
25. A system, comprising: a processing unit; a memory to store a
skin tone activation application; an operating system to load the
skin tone activation application on the processing unit, the skin
tone activation application operative on the processing unit to:
receive a color sample from an image; determine whether the color
sample comprises a skin tone; and determine whether the color
sample matches a skin tone record; and an interface to communicate
information between the processing unit and the operating
system.
26. The system of claim 25, comprising: a wide angle camera
communicatively coupled to the processing unit, the wide area
camera to obtain the image.
27. The system of claim 25, the skin tone activation application
operative on the processing unit to change the operating state from
a power saving state to an active state when the color sample
matches a skin tone record in a database.
28. The system of claim 25, the skin tone activation application
operative on the processing unit to perform object recognition and
segmentation on the color sample.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] In order for gesture recognition to occur using a computing
device, a camera must typically be activated for long periods of
time. The camera often must remain active waiting for a user's
gesture input. However, having the camera remain active for a long
period of time causes the battery life on the computing device to
be depleted.
[0002] Current solutions cause platforms in the computing device to
enter a sleep mode. Yet, if the camera is in the sleep mode, a user
may not be able to awaken the platform based on a gesture alone.
Often a user must press a button on the computing device in order
for the platform to reactivate.
[0003] Alternatively, a camera that is programmed to awaken without
needing another external input typically will awaken whenever any
sort of motion is detected. For example, a sheet of paper entering
the camera's view may cause the camera to awaken unnecessarily. It
is with respect to these and other considerations that the present
improvements have been needed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for skin tone
activation.
[0005] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of a logic flow for the
system of FIG. 1.
[0006] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a centralized system for
the system of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a camera and a computing
device.
[0008] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a skin activation logic
flow.
[0009] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of a computing
architecture.
[0010] FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a communications
architecture.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Various embodiments are directed to skin tone activation. A
color sample may be received. In an embodiment, the color sample
may be received by a computing device, while the computing device
remains in a power saving state. A user may be authenticated when
the color sample matches a skin tone record. The computing device
may be placed in an active state when the user is authenticated. By
using skin tone activation, a user may activate and automatically
authenticate into a computing device using gesture recognition. A
user, using only his or her hand, arm, face or other body part, may
authenticate into the computing device. As the computing device may
remain in a power saving state until the user is authenticated,
battery life of the computing device can be preserved. As a result,
the embodiments can improve affordability, scalability, modularity,
extendibility, or interoperability for an operator, device or
network.
[0012] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like
reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout.
In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous
specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough
understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the novel
embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In
other instances, well known structures and devices are shown in
block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof.
The intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and
alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed
subject matter.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram for a system 100. In one
embodiment, the system 100 may comprise a computer-implemented
system 100 having one or more software applications and/or
components. Although the system 100 shown in FIG. 1 has a limited
number of elements in a certain topology, it may be appreciated
that the system 100 may include more or less elements in alternate
topologies as desired for a given implementation.
[0014] In an embodiment, the system 100 may be in a power saving
state. In an embodiment, the system 100 may be in a power saving
state. In an embodiment, some of the sensors of the camera may
remain in an active state. In an embodiment, 25% of the sensors of
the camera may be in an active state. In an embodiment, between
10-30% of the sensors of the camera may be in an active state while
the rest of the camera sensors and the system 100 may remain in a
power saving state.
[0015] In an embodiment, the one or more sensors that are in an
active state may identify a movement. In an embodiment, the sensors
may identify an object. For example, the sensors may identify when
a user places his or her hands on and/or over the keyboard. For
example, the sensors may identify when a piece of paper is placed
over the keyboard.
[0016] The sensors may take a snapshot of the object. In an
embodiment, the sensors may create a color sample based on the
snapshot of the object. A color sample may include a photograph of
the object taken by the camera.
[0017] The system 100 may include a skin tone activation
application 120. The skin tone activation application 120 may
include a skin tone determination component 122, a skin tone
matching component 124 and a power control component 126. The skin
tone determination component 122 may identify a color sample.
[0018] The color sample may be received by the skin tone
determination component 122. In an embodiment, the color sample may
be the input 110. The skin tone determination component 122 may
determine whether the color sample includes a skin tone. In an
embodiment, the skin tone determination component 122 may compare
the color sample to known skin tones. In an embodiment, the skin
tone determination component 122 may map the color sample in a
color space such as the Commission on Illumination (CIE)
matrix.
[0019] In an embodiment, the skin tone determination component 122
may determine that the color sample is a skin tone. In an
embodiment, the skin tone determination component 122 may determine
whether the color sample is a part of a user's body. For example,
the color sample may be of a user's arm, hand, face, etc. The
embodiments are not limited to this example. In an embodiment, the
skin tone determination component 122 may perform object
recognition and segmentation.
[0020] The skin tone matching component 124 may determine whether
the color sample matches a skin tone record. In an embodiment, the
skin tone matching component 124 may include a skin tone database
125. The skin tone database 125 may include a plurality of skin
tone records. In an embodiment, users of the system may have
previously created skin tone records which can be used for
authentication. The color sample may be compared to the skin tone
records in the skin tone database 125 to determine whether there is
a match. In an embodiment, the color sample may be compared to the
skin tone records using mapping.
[0021] In an embodiment, the skin tone activation application 120
may include a power control component 126 to change the computing
device from a power saving state to an active state. In an
embodiment, the power control component 126 may change the
computing device from a power saving state to an active state when
the color sample matches a skin tone from the skin tone records in
the database.
[0022] Included herein is a set of flow charts representative of
exemplary methodologies for performing novel aspects of the
disclosed architecture. While, for purposes of simplicity of
explanation, the one or more methodologies shown herein, for
example, in the form of a flow chart or flow diagram, are shown and
described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and
appreciated that the methodologies are not limited by the order of
acts, as some acts may, in accordance therewith, occur in a
different order and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown
and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will
understand and appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be
represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as
in a state diagram. Moreover, not all acts illustrated in a
methodology may be required for a novel implementation.
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of a logic flow 200. The
logic flow 200 may be representative of some or all of the
operations executed by one or more embodiments described
herein.
[0024] In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the logic
flow 200 may receive a color sample via a camera while the
computing device remains in a power saving state at block 202. For
example, the computing device may be placed in a power saving state
when no action occurs for a period of time. In an embodiment, while
the computing device is in a power saving state, a camera may be
placed in a partial power saving state. The camera may be in a
partial power saving state as some of the sensors in the camera may
remain in an active state. For example, 25% of the sensors in a
camera may be in an active state. For example, between 10-30% of
the sensors may be active while the rest of the sensors in the
camera may remain in a power saving state. The computing device may
remain in a power saving state. In an embodiment, a power saving
state may be a sleep mode.
[0025] In an embodiment, the camera may determine that there is an
object. In an embodiment, the camera may determine the object via
movement. The camera may take a picture or snapshot of an object
using the active sensors. The rest of the sensors in the camera may
remain in a power saving state. In an embodiment, the sensors may
identify that there is an object and take a snapshot of the object.
In an embodiment, the sensors may create a color sample based on
the snapshot of the object. The color sample may be received by the
computing device while the computing device remains in a power
saving state.
[0026] The logic flow 200 may authenticate a user based on the
color sample at block 204. For example, a user may be authenticated
into the computing device based on the color sample. In an
embodiment, the computing system may determine whether the color
sample is a skin tone. In an embodiment, the computing system may
determine whether the color sample is from a human by analyzing the
pixels of the color sample. The pixels of the color sample may be
compared with the pixels of a skin tone. In an embodiment a CIE
matrix may be used to map the pixels from the color sample into the
color space. After the pixels are mapped into a color space, the
pixels may be compared to the skin tone color space. The
embodiments are not limited to this example.
[0027] The color sample may be authenticated by comparing the color
sample with a plurality of skin tone records. Skin tone records may
be snapshots or color samples of a portion of a user's skin that
are stored in a database or table. A skin tone record may be a
unique color sample of a particular user's skin tone composition. A
skin tone record may have unique pixel characteristics which can be
used for authentication. A skin tone record may be associated with
a user's profile to allow the user access to a computing
device.
[0028] For a user to be authenticated, a user may have previously
had a snapshot taken of a portion of the user's skin. For example,
the snapshot may be of the person's hand, finger, forearm, elbow,
face, etc. The prior snapshot may be stored in a database as a skin
tone record. In an embodiment, the skin tone record may be the skin
tone composition of a user determined using skin tone analysis. At
a later time, the user may wish to authenticate at a computing
device within a computing system. The user may use that same
portion of skin to authenticate with the computing device. A
hands-free environment for authentication may allow a user to use a
part of his or her body in order to authenticate into the computing
system.
[0029] For example, a camera associated with a computing device on
a computing system may authenticate thirty different users in a
company. A user may have previously had a snapshot taken of their
hand. At least a portion of the snapshot may be stored as a skin
tone record in a skin tone record database. The user may later wish
to authenticate using a camera and a computing device in the
computing system. The user may place his/her hand so that it may be
viewed by the camera. The camera may then create a color sample of
the user's hand. It may be determined that the color sample is a
skin tone. The skin tone activation application on the computing
device may determine whether there is a match between the color
sample and one of the skin tone records in the skin tone record
database. When there is a match between the color sample and the
skin tone record, the user may be authenticated. When the user is
authenticated, the user may have access to the computing device. In
an embodiment, based on the user's profile associated with his or
her skin tone record, a user may be allowed access to certain
information in the computing system.
[0030] The logic flow 200 may place the computing device in an
active state when the user is authenticated at block 206. For
example, when the color sample matches a skin tone record, a user
may be authenticated. An authenticated user may have access to the
computing system. When the user is authenticated, the computing
device may change from a power saving state to an active state. In
an embodiment, by placing a computing device in an active state, a
gesture recognition system on the computing device may be enabled
and a user may communicate with the computing device via gestures.
The embodiments are not limited to this example.
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a centralized system
300. The centralized system 300 may implement some or all of the
structure and/or operations for the system 100 in a single
computing entity, such as entirely within a single computing device
320.
[0032] The computing device 320 may execute processing operations
or logic for the system 100 using a processing component 330. The
processing component 330 may comprise various hardware elements,
software elements, or a combination of both. Examples of hardware
elements may include devices, components, processors,
microprocessors, circuits, circuit elements (e.g., transistors,
resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so forth), integrated
circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC),
programmable logic devices (PLD), digital signal processors (DSP),
field programmable gate array (FPGA), memory units, logic gates,
registers, semiconductor device, chips, microchips, chip sets, and
so forth. Examples of software elements may include software
components, programs, applications, computer programs, application
programs, system programs, machine programs, operating system
software, middleware, firmware, software modules, routines,
subroutines, functions, methods, procedures, software interfaces,
application program interfaces (API), instruction sets, computing
code, computer code, code segments, computer code segments, words,
values, symbols, or any combination thereof. Determining whether an
embodiment is implemented using hardware elements and/or software
elements may vary in accordance with any number of factors, such as
desired computational rate, power levels, heat tolerances,
processing cycle budget, input data rates, output data rates,
memory resources, data bus speeds and other design or performance
constraints, as desired for a given implementation.
[0033] The computing device 320 may execute communications
operations or logic for the system 100 using communications
component 340. The communications component 340 may implement any
well-known communications techniques and protocols, such as
techniques suitable for use with packet-switched networks (e.g.,
public networks such as the Internet, private networks such as an
enterprise intranet, and so forth), circuit-switched networks
(e.g., the public switched telephone network), or a combination of
packet-switched networks and circuit-switched networks (with
suitable gateways and translators). The communications component
340 may include various types of standard communication elements,
such as one or more communications interfaces, network interfaces,
network interface cards (NIC), radios, wireless
transmitters/receivers (transceivers), wired and/or wireless
communication media, physical connectors, and so forth. By way of
example, and not limitation, communication media 318 includes wired
communications media and wireless communications media. Examples of
wired communications media may include a wire, cable, metal leads,
printed circuit boards (PCB), backplanes, switch fabrics,
semiconductor material, twisted-pair wire, co-axial cable, fiber
optics, a propagated signal, and so forth. Examples of wireless
communications media may include acoustic, radio-frequency (RF)
spectrum, infrared and other wireless media 318.
[0034] The computing device 320 may communicate with other devices
310, 330 over a communications media 318 using communications
signals 322 via the communications component 340.
[0035] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of a camera and a computing
device. The computing device may include a monitor 410 and a
keyboard 415. A wide angle camera 405 may detect an object on
and/or over the keyboard 415.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, an object may be a user's hand 420. In
an embodiment, the camera 405 may be an external camera. An
external camera 405 may be placed on top of the monitor 410. In an
embodiment, the camera 405 may be an internal camera. The internal
camera 405 may be located at the top part of a computing device,
such as, but not limited to, a laptop. In an embodiment, the
internal camera 405 may be located above the monitor 410, or
screen, of a laptop. In an embodiment, a camera 405 may be used to
take a snapshot of an object. In an embodiment, the camera may
obtain an image of the object. The camera 405 may send a color
sample from the image to the system 100 to determine whether a user
may be authenticated. In an embodiment, the camera 405 may be a
wide angle camera or a wide lens webcam. In an embodiment, a camera
405 may have high color accuracy. In an embodiment, a camera 405
may have a wide or large area or angle in which to view objects. In
an embodiment, a camera 405 may view an entire surface. In an
embodiment, a camera 405 may cover the width, depth and height
between a keyboard 415 and the display 410. In an embodiment, a
camera 405, such as, but not limited to, a wide angle camera, may
be used in order to determine an object in a variety of locations
that may not be visible to a non-wide angle camera. For example, if
a camera 405 is on top of a monitor 410 that is perpendicular to a
keyboard 415, then the camera 405 may determine an object, such as
a user's hand, is over the keyboard.
[0037] In an embodiment, the camera 405 may detect the user's hand
420 above and/or on the keyboard 415. The camera 405 may take a
snapshot of the user's hand 420 to create a color sample. The color
sample may be sent to the skin tone activation system 100 within
the computing device.
[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a skin activation logic
flow 500. The logic flow 500 may be representative of some or all
of the operations executed by one or more embodiments described
herein.
[0039] In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the logic
flow 500 may include a computing device in a power saving state
with a camera having one or more sensors in an active state to
detect an object at block 505. In an embodiment, the computing
device may be in a power saving state as there may have been no
activity for a period of time. In an embodiment, a gesture
recognition system may be part of the computing device. By having
the computing device in a power saving state, the gesture
recognition system may be uninitialized until the computing device
is placed in an active state. In an embodiment, the computing
device may include a platform in a power saving state. In an
embodiment, by having the platform in a power saving state, the
computing device may reduce power consumption. In an embodiment,
having the platform in a power saving state may preserve the
battery life of the computing device. In an embodiment, a power
saving state may include a sleep mode.
[0040] In an embodiment, the camera may be in a partial operational
state. In an embodiment, the camera may include multiple sensors.
In an embodiment, one or more of the sensors may remain in an
active state while the rest of the sensors remain in a power saving
state. In an embodiment, the camera may be powered by the computing
device. By having the camera remain in a partial operational state
or a partial power saving state, power consumption of the computing
device may be reduced. In an embodiment, the computing device may
be powered by a battery. By having the camera remain in a partial
power saving state and the computing device remain in a power
saving state, the battery life may be extended.
[0041] In an embodiment, the logic flow 500 may receive a color
sample at block 510. In an embodiment, one or more of the sensors
in an active state inside the camera may detect an object. In an
embodiment, the object may be detected by the camera based on
motion. In an embodiment, the camera may take a snapshot of the
object. In an embodiment, the camera may obtain an image. The
camera may create an image of the object. In an embodiment, the
color sample of a user may be received from the image. The color
sample may be received by the computing device.
[0042] In an embodiment, the logic flow 500 may determine whether
the color sample is a skin tone at block 515. It may be determined
whether the color sample is a skin tone by mapping the pixels of
the color sample in the color space. The pixels in the color sample
may create a CIE matrix. In an embodiment, the color space of the
color sample may be compared to the skin tone space of the skin
tone record. In an embodiment, the color space may be compare to
the skin tone space to determine whether the color sample is a skin
tone.
[0043] If the color sample is not a skin tone 515, the computing
device may remain in a power saving state. The camera may remain in
a partial power saving state with one or more sensors in an active
state to detect an object 505. The camera may wait until an object
appears and may determine whether that object is a skin tone. By
having the computing device remain in a power saving state and the
camera remain in a partial power saving state until the color
sample is determined to be a skin tone, objects may pass in front
of the camera without placing the camera or the computing device
into an active mode.
[0044] If the color sample is a skin tone 505, the logic flow 500
may place the camera sensors to an active state at block 520. In an
embodiment, only some of the camera sensors may be active prior to
determining that the color sample is a skin tone. When it is
determined that the color sample is a skin tone, more sensors may
be placed in an active state. In an embodiment, all of the sensors
may be placed in an active or awake state when the color sample is
a skin tone. In an embodiment, the sensors on the camera may change
from a partial power saving state to an active state.
[0045] In an embodiment, the logic flow 500 may perform object
recognition and segmentation on the color sample at block 525. In
an embodiment, prior to performing object recognition and
segmentation, the camera may obtain another color sample. In an
embodiment, a second color sample may be obtained in order to
ensure that the image on the snapshot was clear and accurate. The
computing device may receive another color sample. The new color
sample of the user may be determined from the image. In an
embodiment, the new color sample of the user may be from a new
image. In an embodiment, more and/or all of the camera sensors may
be active as the sensors may have become active when the computing
device determined that the color sample is a skin tone. In an
embodiment, a new color sample from a new image may be created by
the camera in the active power state.
[0046] Object recognition and segmentation may be performed on the
color sample in order to determine that the color sample is an
identified body part. Object recognition and segmentation may be
performed on the color sample so that the color sample includes
that same body part as the skin tone records. For example, the
color sample may be of a user's forearm. However, the skin tone
samples may be of a user's hand. If the color sample includes only
a user's forearm, then the color sample may not match the proper
skin tone record.
[0047] In an embodiment, the color sample may include a user's
forearm and the user's hand. The color sample may be segmented so
that the color sample includes only the user's hand and not the
user's forearm. By having a color sample with only the user's hand,
a match may be determined by comparing the color sample to the skin
tone records.
[0048] In an embodiment, object recognition and segmentation may be
used by a gesture recognition system within the computing device.
In an embodiment, by performing object recognition and segmentation
on the color sample, once the user is authenticated, a gesture
recognition system may use information from the object recognition
and segmentation to detect gross and fine gesture movements of the
user.
[0049] In an embodiment, the logic flow 500 may determine whether
the color sample matches a skin tone record at block 530. In an
embodiment, the skin tone records may be stored in a database. In
an embodiment, the color sample may be compared to a skin tone
record in the database to determine whether there is a match. In an
embodiment, the color sample may be compared to the skin tone
records via mapping.
[0050] In an embodiment, the color sample may not match to a skin
tone record 530. In an embodiment, the logic flow 500 may use other
methods to authenticate the user at block 535. In an embodiment,
other methods of authentication may be used because the computing
device determined that a user is trying to authenticate. Because
the color sample is a skin tone, the computing device can determine
that there is a human user trying to authenticate. The computing
device may provide an alternate way for the user to
authenticate.
[0051] For example, the computing device may enable the keyboard
for a user to type a name and/or password in order to authenticate.
In an embodiment, the computing device may enable a mouse for a
user to use in order to authenticate. In an embodiment, the
computing device may remain in a power saving state until the user
has successfully authenticated. In an embodiment, when the user has
successfully authenticated, the computing device my change to an
active state. In an embodiment, when the user has successfully
authenticated, a voice command may be used to initiate a gesture
based input.
[0052] In an embodiment, the color sample may match a skin tone
record 530. In an embodiment, the logic flow 500 may place the
computing device in an active state at block 540. In an embodiment,
the color sample may provide authentication for a user. In an
embodiment, as a result of the authentication, the computing device
may be placed in an active state. In an embodiment, by keeping the
computing device in a power saving state until the user is
authenticated, power consumption may be reduced and battery life
may be extended for the computing device.
[0053] In an embodiment, when the computing device is in an active
state, gesture recognition may be used. The user may immediately
use a gesture based input once the user is authenticated into the
system with a color sample match. In an embodiment, an initial hand
gesture may allow the system-wide gesture commands to be turned on
or off. By initially turning system-wide gesture commands on or
off, power consumption may be reduced and the battery life saved
and/or extended.
[0054] In an embodiment, gesture recognition software may allow a
user to do basic tasks on the computing device using one or more
gesture commands. For example, a wave of the right hand may
initiate a new e-mail composition. In an embodiment, a gesture
command may be used to place the computing device back in a power
saving state. In an embodiment, the gesture command may place the
camera in a partial power saving state.
[0055] In an embodiment, the computing device may be placed back in
a power saving state and the camera placed in a partial power
saving state when a certain amount of time has elapsed since the
last input. For example, a user may use gesture recognition to
communicate with the computing device. If the system has not
received any gestures from the user for a time interval such as,
but not limited to, 1 minute, 5 minutes and/or 10 minutes, the
computing device may be placed back in a power saving state and the
camera placed in a partial power saving state. In an embodiment,
the time interval may be shorter or longer. In an embodiment, the
time period may be predetermined. In an embodiment, the time period
may be determined based on how frequently a user gestures. In an
embodiment, the time period may be set by the user. The embodiments
are not limited to these examples.
[0056] FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an exemplary computing
architecture 600 suitable for implementing various embodiments as
previously described. As used in this application, the terms
"system" and "component" are intended to refer to a
computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware
and software, software, or software in execution, examples of which
are provided by the exemplary computing architecture 600. For
example, a component can be, but is not limited to being, a process
running on a processor, a processor, a hard disk drive, multiple
storage drives (of optical and/or magnetic storage medium), an
object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a
computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a
server and the server can be a component. One or more components
can reside within a process and/or thread of execution, and a
component can be localized on one computer and/or distributed
between two or more computers. Further, components may be
communicatively coupled to each other by various types of
communications media to coordinate operations. The coordination may
involve the uni-directional or bi-directional exchange of
information. For instance, the components may communicate
information in the form of signals communicated over the
communications media. The information can be implemented as signals
allocated to various signal lines. In such allocations, each
message is a signal. Further embodiments, however, may
alternatively employ data messages. Such data messages may be sent
across various connections. Exemplary connections include parallel
interfaces, serial interfaces, and bus interfaces.
[0057] In one embodiment, the computing architecture 600 may
comprise or be implemented as part of an electronic device.
Examples of an electronic device may include without limitation a
mobile device, a personal digital assistant, a mobile computing
device, a smart phone, a cellular telephone, a handset, a one-way
pager, a two-way pager, a messaging device, a computer, a personal
computer (PC), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a notebook
computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a server, a
server array or server farm, a web server, a network server, an
Internet server, a work station, a mini-computer, a main frame
computer, a supercomputer, a network appliance, a web appliance, a
distributed computing system, multiprocessor systems,
processor-based systems, consumer electronics, programmable
consumer electronics, television, digital television, set top box,
wireless access point, base station, subscriber station, mobile
subscriber center, radio network controller, router, hub, gateway,
bridge, switch, machine, or combination thereof. The embodiments
are not limited in this context.
[0058] The computing architecture 600 includes various common
computing elements, such as one or more processors, co-processors,
memory units, chipsets, controllers, peripherals, interfaces,
oscillators, timing devices, video cards, audio cards, multimedia
input/output (I/O) components, and so forth. The embodiments,
however, are not limited to implementation by the computing
architecture 600.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 6, the computing architecture 600 comprises
a processing unit 604, a system memory 606 and a system bus 608.
The processing unit 604 can be any of various commercially
available processors. Dual microprocessors and other
multi-processor architectures may also be employed as the
processing unit 604. The system bus 608 provides an interface for
system components including, but not limited to, the system memory
606 to the processing unit 604. The system bus 608 can be any of
several types of bus structure that may further interconnect to a
memory bus (with or without a memory controller), a peripheral bus,
and a local bus using any of a variety of commercially available
bus architectures.
[0060] The computing architecture 600 may comprise or implement
various articles of manufacture. An article of manufacture may
comprise a computer-readable storage medium to store logic.
Embodiments may also be at least partly implemented as instructions
contained in or on a non-transitory computer-readable storage
medium, which may be read and executed by one or more processors to
enable performance of the operations described herein. Examples of
a computer-readable storage medium may include any tangible media
capable of storing electronic data, including volatile memory or
non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable or
non-erasable memory, writeable or re-writeable memory, and so
forth. Examples of logic may include executable computer program
instructions implemented using any suitable type of code, such as
source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code,
static code, dynamic code, object-oriented code, visual code, and
the like.
[0061] The system memory 606 may include various types of
computer-readable storage media in the form of one or more higher
speed memory units, such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access
memory (RAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDRAM),
synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), static RAM (SRAM), programmable ROM
(PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable
programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, polymer memory such as
ferroelectric polymer memory, ovonic memory, phase change or
ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS)
memory, magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media
suitable for storing information. In the illustrated embodiment
shown in FIG. 6, the system memory 606 can include non-volatile
memory 610 and/or volatile memory 612. A basic input/output system
(BIOS) can be stored in the non-volatile memory 610.
[0062] The computer 602 may include various types of
computer-readable storage media in the form of one or more lower
speed memory units, including an internal hard disk drive (HDD)
614, a magnetic floppy disk drive (FDD) 616 to read from or write
to a removable magnetic disk 618, and an optical disk drive 620 to
read from or write to a removable optical disk 622 (e.g., a CD-ROM
or DVD). The HDD 614, FDD 616 and optical disk drive 620 can be
connected to the system bus 608 by a HDD interface 624, an FDD
interface 626 and an optical drive interface 628, respectively. The
HDD interface 624 for external drive implementations can include at
least one or both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and IEEE 1394
interface technologies.
[0063] The drives and associated computer-readable media provide
volatile and/or nonvolatile storage of data, data structures,
computer-executable instructions, and so forth. For example, a
number of program modules can be stored in the drives and memory
units 610, 612, including an operating system 630, one or more
application programs 632, other program modules 634, and program
data 636.
[0064] The one or more application programs 632, other program
modules 634, and program data 636 can include, for example, a skin
tone determination component 122, a skin tone matching component
124, and a power control component 126.
[0065] A user can enter commands and information into the computer
602 through one or more wire/wireless input devices, for example, a
keyboard 638 and a pointing device, such as a mouse 640. Other
input devices may include a microphone, an infra-red (IR) remote
control, a joystick, a game pad, a stylus pen, touch screen, or the
like. These and other input devices are often connected to the
processing unit 604 through an input device interface 642 that is
coupled to the system bus 608, but can be connected by other
interfaces such as a parallel port, IEEE 1394 serial port, a game
port, a USB port, an IR interface, and so forth.
[0066] A monitor 644 or other type of display device is also
connected to the system bus 608 via an interface, such as a video
adaptor 646. In addition to the monitor 644, a computer typically
includes other peripheral output devices, such as speakers,
printers, and so forth.
[0067] The computer 602 may operate in a networked environment
using logical connections via wire and/or wireless communications
to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 648. The
remote computer 648 can be a workstation, a server computer, a
router, a personal computer, portable computer,
microprocessor-based entertainment appliance, a peer device or
other common network node, and typically includes many or all of
the elements described relative to the computer 602, although, for
purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device 650 is
illustrated. The logical connections depicted include wire/wireless
connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 652 and/or larger
networks, for example, a wide area network (WAN) 654. Such LAN and
WAN networking environments are commonplace in offices and
companies, and facilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such
as intranets, all of which may connect to a global communications
network, for example, the Internet.
[0068] When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 602
is connected to the LAN 6652 through a wire and/or wireless
communication network interface or adaptor 656. The adaptor 656 can
facilitate wire and/or wireless communications to the LAN 652,
which may also include a wireless access point disposed thereon for
communicating with the wireless functionality of the adaptor
656.
[0069] When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 602
can include a modem 658, or is connected to a communications server
on the WAN 654, or has other means for establishing communications
over the WAN 654, such as by way of the Internet. The modem 658,
which can be internal or external and a wire and/or wireless
device, connects to the system bus 608 via the input device
interface 642. In a networked environment, program modules depicted
relative to the computer 602, or portions thereof, can be stored in
the remote memory/storage device 650. It will be appreciated that
the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of
establishing a communications link between the computers can be
used.
[0070] The computer 602 is operable to communicate with wire and
wireless devices or entities using the IEEE 802 family of
standards, such as wireless devices operatively disposed in
wireless communication (e.g., IEEE 802.11 over-the-air modulation
techniques) with, for example, a printer, scanner, desktop and/or
portable computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), communications
satellite, any piece of equipment or location associated with a
wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk, news stand, restroom),
and telephone. This includes at least Wi-Fi (or Wireless Fidelity),
WiMax, and Bluetooth.TM. wireless technologies. Thus, the
communication can be a predefined structure as with a conventional
network or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two
devices. Wi-Fi networks use radio technologies called IEEE 802.11x
(a, b, g, n, etc.) to provide secure, reliable, fast wireless
connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can be used to connect computers to
each other, to the Internet, and to wire networks (which use IEEE
802.3-related media and functions).
[0071] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary
communications architecture 700 suitable for implementing various
embodiments as previously described. The communications
architecture 700 includes various common communications elements,
such as a transmitter, receiver, transceiver, radio, network
interface, baseband processor, antenna, amplifiers, filters, and so
forth. The embodiments, however, are not limited to implementation
by the communications architecture 700.
[0072] As shown in FIG. 7, the communications architecture 700
comprises includes one or more clients 702 and servers 704. The
clients 702 and the servers 704 are operatively connected to one or
more respective client data stores 708 and server data stores 710
that can be employed to store information local to the respective
clients 702 and servers 704, such as cookies and/or associated
contextual information.
[0073] The clients 702 and the servers 704 may communicate
information between each other using a communication framework 706.
The communications framework 806 may implement any well-known
communications techniques and protocols, such as those described
with reference to systems 200, 300 and 500. The communications
framework 806 may be implemented as a packet-switched network
(e.g., public networks such as the Internet, private networks such
as an enterprise intranet, and so forth), a circuit-switched
network (e.g., the public switched telephone network), or a
combination of a packet-switched network and a circuit-switched
network (with suitable gateways and translators).
[0074] Some embodiments may be described using the expression "one
embodiment" or "an embodiment" along with their derivatives. These
terms mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic
described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least
one embodiment. The appearances of the phrase "in one embodiment"
in various places in the specification are not necessarily all
referring to the same embodiment. Further, some embodiments may be
described using the expression "coupled" and "connected" along with
their derivatives. These terms are not necessarily intended as
synonyms for each other. For example, some embodiments may be
described using the terms "connected" and/or "coupled" to indicate
that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical
contact with each other. The term "coupled," however, may also mean
that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each
other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other.
[0075] It is emphasized that the Abstract of the Disclosure is
provided to allow a reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the
technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that
it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of
the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it
can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single
embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This
method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an
intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than
are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following
claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all
features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following
claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with
each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. In the
appended claims, the terms "including" and "in which" are used as
the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms "comprising"
and "wherein," respectively. Moreover, the terms "first," "second,"
"third," and so forth, are used merely as labels, and are not
intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.
[0076] What has been described above includes examples of the
disclosed architecture. It is, of course, not possible to describe
every conceivable combination of components and/or methodologies,
but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many
further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly,
the novel architecture is intended to embrace all such alterations,
modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope
of the appended claims.
* * * * *